This study aims to learn more about the natural history of how the immune system responds to infection with COVID-19 in cancer patients. Additionally, the study will measure what percentage of people in the Tampa area already had COVID-19, even if they didn’t have any symptoms.
The pandemic has shown us how important our immune system is at stopping infections! This study is looking at how well the immune system responds to COVID-19 infection in cancer patients. A key way our immune system fights viruses is by making antibodies that hold on to the virus to stop it from getting into our cells. We need to learn more about the natural history of the virus because that will help us develop better ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses in general and specifically for patients receiving cancer care. We are looking at two things.
The first is measuring the antibody levels in those who tested positive for COVID-19 in people with and without a cancer diagnosis. We also want to see if people who have no or mild symptoms from COVID-19 had a strong enough immune response to prevent future infection. As part of this study, patients and people in the local community are being asked to donate blood and complete surveys if they have tested positive for COVID-19 and a random sample of patients who tested negative for COVID-19.
